eAlerts

Annual and Six-monthly Activity Reports

The latest Annual and Six-monthly Activity Reports are now available. These snapshot Development Applications Lodged and Determined, together with information on a variety of Regulatory functions which have occurred in the Ipswich City Council area.

View the 2025-2026 Annual Activity Report Card here and the June 2026 Six-monthly Activity Report here.

Ipswich City Plan 2025 Amendment Package 1

The first amendment to the Ipswich City Plan 2025 has been adopted.

Amendment Package 1 has now been incorporated into the Ipswich City Plan 2025 version 2, effective on and from 1 July 2026. The updated scheme is available online.

Amendment Package 1 addresses predominately administrative inconsistencies and introduces targeted updates to improve clarity and usability.

It includes adjustments to levels of assessment, benchmark refinements, and improves the character provisions. Updates have been made to multiple listings, including the addition of one new listing. Minor editorial updates ensure accuracy in spelling, grammar, numbering, and formatting.

Ministerial approval was received on 15 June 2026, with Amendment Package 1 adopted on 22 June 2026.

To obtain more information, please visit the Shape Your Ipswich project page.

Public consultation of the proposed Local Government Infrastructure Designation for the North Ipswich Reserve Western Grandstand

Community engagement for the North Ipswich Reserve Western Grandstand is now open.

This project is the first stage of council’s commitment to transform North Ipswich Reserve into a world-class sport and entertainment venue, which involves an upgrade to the Western Grandstand through a modernised design and increased formal seating capacity.

The project is proposed to be delivered through a Local Government Infrastructure Designation (LGID), a pathway under the Planning Act 2016 to streamline the planning and approval process for essential community infrastructure.

To obtain more information, or to have your say by making a submission, go to https://www.shapeyouripswich.com.au/western-grandstand.

If you have any questions about the Western Grandstand Project, you can contact Council on (07) 3810 6666, or email communityengagement@ipswich.qld.gov.au, or visit Council’s Concierge Reception Area at 1 Nicholas Street, Ipswich.

Consultation will close on 22 May 2026.

Ripley Valley Priority Development Area (PDA) - New Monthly Development Assessment Report Card

Ipswich City Council, as Minister of Economic Development Queensland (MEDQ) delegate for the Ripley Valley PDA has committed to delivering a more transparent, consistent and predictable development assessment experience for the development industry. As part of this commitment, council is aligning key elements of our assessment processes with Economic Development Queensland’s (EDQ) updated performance framework.

Council have begun publishing a monthly development assessment report card on their website. The first release will present data collected for March 2026, with monthly updates to follow.

Council’s performance will be tracked against EDQ key performance indicators, providing industry with a clear, consistent benchmark and a shared understanding of expectations across both organisations.

This initiative supports the Queensland Government’s plan to deliver homes at pace, aiming for 1 million new homes by 2044 to combat the housing crisis.  By aligning processes and improving transparency, council aims to contribute to faster, more predictable pathways for housing delivery across Ipswich.

These changes are designed to:

• improve transparency and confidence in council’s assessment performance
• provide industry with clearer, more predictable timeframes
• support better planning, resourcing and project decision making
• reinforce council’s commitment to enabling timely housing supply
• demonstrate accountability and continuous improvement.

We value our strong partnership with the development industry and look forward to continuing to work together to support high quality, timely growth in the Ripley Valley PDA.

Update on Planning and Regulatory Services Structure

The Planning and Regulatory Services Department at Ipswich City Council has recently completed a restructure to strengthen service delivery and better align functions. This includes consolidating the former Engineering, Health and Environment Branch into the Compliance Branch and the newly formed Development Services Branch.

As part of this realignment:

• Environmental Health functions (food safety, public health) have moved to the Compliance Branch
• Development Planning, Development Delivery, Engineering and Environment Assessment, and Environmental Compliance are now consolidated under the Development Services Branch
• A new Infrastructure Planning section has been established within the City Design Branch to improve oversight of regional infrastructure challenges.

Within the Development Services Branch, these changes present an opportunity to build capability, efficiency and deliver a more consistent and coordinated service that aligns with other South East Queensland councils. Key structural changes in Development Services Branch include:

• establishing a Development Operations section focused on front-end services (enquiries and administration) and continuous improvement
• merging planning assessment services into a single citywide section
• creating a multidisciplinary Ripley Valley Assessment section to focus on the Priority Development Area
• creating a Technical Assessment section to review material change of use, reconfiguring a lot and operational works applications
• merging plan sealing and bonding into a single Development Delivery section
• aligning environmental and development compliance activities for greater consistency.

The new Development Services Branch structure will be implemented in stages, with the Ripley Valley Assessment section commenced on Monday 2 March 2026. This allows the Ripley Valley team to focus on coordinating with Economic Development Queensland to better align our services.  The remainder of the branch will then transition to the new structure on Monday 30 March 2026.

While we are working to minimise any disruption, we ask for your patience as teams adjust to the new structure. If you have a live development application and the officer leading the assessment of that application is changing, you will be sent formal correspondence advising of the change in officer.  In addition, the new officer will be briefed on your project, but will also work with the existing officer in transitioning the file ownership.

Details relating to the structural changes are available here(PDF, 243KB), but if you have any further questions, please contact development@ipswich.qld.gov.au.

First amendment to the Ipswich City Plan 2025 - Public consultation period open

The community can now have their say on proposed Amendment Package 1.

This package contains predominantly operational, minor, and administrative amendments, including editorial matters and amendments to improve clarity and increase efficiency. The amendments also include enhancement of the character provisions through the inclusion of two new listings and updates to improve the operation of the code.

To view the proposed amendments and supporting material, obtain more information, or to have your say by making a submission, go to Shapeyouripswich.com.au

If you have any questions about Amendment Package 1, you can contact Ipswich Council on (07) 3810 6666, email planningscheme@ipswich.qld.gov.au, or visit Ipswich City Council’s Concierge Reception Area at 1 Nicholas Street, Ipswich.

Consultation will close on Friday 6 March 2026.

Have your say and contribute to the Ipswich City Plan 2025 by shaping its first amendment.

Quarterly Activity Report

The latest Quarterly Activity Reports is now available. This shows Development Applications Lodged and Determined, together with information on a variety of Regulatory functions which have occurred in the Ipswich City Council area.

View the December 2025 Quarterly Activity Report.

Notice regarding plan sealing and bonds in the lead up to Christmas

Ipswich City Council has received record numbers of plan sealing requests in the lead up to Christmas. Due to the volume of applications, officers will be committing time to complete lodgements that are able to be approved without issuing an outstanding issues letter. If your existing application is not completely lodged and properly made by close of business 28th November 2025, we are unable to guarantee an approval in the 2025 calendar year. 

We encourage you to make sure that existing and incoming lodgements are well made to get the fastest possible timeframe. To ensure that your application is able to be assessed this year ensure your application is complete, with infrastructure charges paid, bonding approval issued and appropriate connection certificates provided. All required information should be submitted up front, otherwise your application is unlikely to be finalised.

Given current volumes, customers should also expect delays with security releases (on/off maintenance) up to a month while the team focuses on assessing and deciding well-made plan sealing applications. Please contact us if there are urgent matters so we can work with you on possible solutions.

Quarterly Activity Report

The latest Quarterly Activity Reports is now available. This shows Development Applications Lodged and Determined, together with information on a variety of Regulatory functions which have occurred in the Ipswich City Council area.

View the September 2025 Quarterly Activity Report.

Waste and Resource Recovery Service Guideline - Multiple Dwellings, Mixed-use and Commercial Developments

An updated waste and resource recovery technical guideline has been prepared to provide detailed guidance on designing for the effective storage and collection of waste and recyclable material from residential, commercial and mixed-use developments.

The guideline has been prepared to:

• align with the Resource Recovery Strategy 2021-2031
• build on consultation outcomes and implement best-practice waste and resource recovery solutions
• replace the former Implementation Guideline No. 23 - Refuse Arrangements and Management for Multiple Residential Development
• improve the understanding of comprehensive waste and resource recovery
• outline the preferred design parameters and approach to meeting council’s operational, safety and environmental requirements
• streamline the planning process.

Developers are encouraged to read and apply the guidance when preparing development applications for multiple dwelling, commercial, and mixed-use developments.

The technical guideline can be viewed and downloaded from council’s website.

Plan Sealing and Uncompleted Works Bonds - Ripley Valley PDA

Ipswich City Council (council) staff have noticed a recent influx of Plan Sealing applications being lodged either before, or at the same time as, the submission of a request for the MEDQ Delegate to accept an Uncompleted Works Bond. This has led to significant time investment by council officers to investigate and appropriately allocate the submitted Bank Guarantee/s against the relevant Pre-Construction application number/s.

To allow for Plan Sealing applications to be processed efficiently, applicants are reminded that Plan Sealing applications must be supported by a MEDQ Delegate On Maintenance Acceptance Letter, or an Uncompleted Works Bond Acceptance Letter.

Where early Plan Sealing is proposed, the Project Coordinator must first submit a request for the MEDQ Delegate to accept an Uncompleted Works Bond, in lieu of completion of works against the relevant Pre-Construction (PDAEE or PDAEPC) application/s. Such a request must be accompanied by the mandatory information as outlined in council’s Ripley PDA Application/ Lodgement Form. The Uncompleted Works Bond Acceptance Letter must be issued by the MEDQ Delegate before the associated Plan Sealing application is submitted.

Plan Sealing applications submitted without either the MEDQ Delegate’s On Maintenance Acceptance Letter or Uncompleted Works Bond Acceptance Letter will either not be accepted by Council or deemed “not properly made” upon lodgement.

Annual and Quarterly Activity Reports

The latest Annual and Quarterly Activity Reports are now available. These snapshot Development Applications Lodged and Determined, together with information on a variety of Regulatory functions which have occurred in the Ipswich City Council area.

View the June 2025 Quarterly Activity Report here and the 2024-2025 Annual Activity Report Card here.

Operational Works Approval for Driveways - Non-Standard Residential and Commercial Applications

From the commencement of the new financial year 2025-2026, Engineering, Health and Environment Branch will be responsible for approving Operational Works applications for non-standard residential and commercial driveways in accordance with Council’s New Planning Scheme.

A driveway is a vehicular access point for a property adjacent to a road or street crossing over a verge, nature strip and/or footpath. In most cases, the driveway is formed from the kerb and channel or edge of the carriageway to the property boundary. It is important to note that driveways are the property owner's responsibility and any associated driveway construction costs, construction activities and maintenance are not Council's responsibility.

When constructing the initial driveway, you do not need approval to build a standard driveway provided it complies with the acceptable development requirements in accordance with the Ipswich City Plan 2025 and council's driveway standard drawing/s.

You need Council Operational Works approval if your application:

• is a non-standard residential or commercial driveway (see factsheet and relevant standard drawings under More Information below); and
• is an additional driveway that does not comply with the Planning Scheme Requirements.

It should be noted that proposed driveways on roadways under the control of Department of Transport and Main Roads are subject to an approval process from that entity.

To lodge an application for a Non-Standard Residential or Commercial Driveway, please lodge your DA1 application form along with payment to plandev@ipswich.qld.gov.au.

For further information on Driveway Approval please visit the council's Driveways webpage or contact Engineering, Health and Environment Branch via phone on 3810 6888 or via email on plandev@ipswich.qld.gov.au.

New Ipswich City Plan 2025, Local Government Infrastructure Plan, and associated Ipswich Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution

Adoption of the new Ipswich City Plan 2025

Ipswich City Council adopted the Ipswich City Plan 2025 including a new Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP) on 29 May 2025 to take effect on and from 1 July 2025.

The new city plan has now taken effect, replacing the former 2006 Ipswich Planning Scheme with a contemporary, fit-for-purpose scheme that will position Ipswich to respond to growth over the next 20 years.

The city plan also includes a new Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP) to guide infrastructure delivery to supports the anticipated growth.

Thank you for helping shape our city’s future.

To view the Ipswich City Plan 2025 including the new LGIP, click here and if you would like more information on planning in Ipswich, click here.

Adoption of the new Local Government Infrastructure Plan, the LGIP 2025

Ipswich City Council adopted a new local government infrastructure plan, the LGIP 2025 on 29 May 2025.

The LGIP 2025 forms part of the Ipswich City Plan 2025 and replaces the existing local government infrastructure plan contained in Part 13 of the Ipswich Planning Scheme 2006.

The purpose and general effect of the LGIP 2025 is to:

• integrate infrastructure planning with land use planning as identified in the Ipswich City Plan 2025;
• provide transparency regarding Council’s intentions for the provision of trunk infrastructure;
• enable Council to estimate the cost of infrastructure provision to assist its long term financial planning;
• ensure that trunk infrastructure is planned and provided in an efficient and orderly manner; and
• provide a basis for the imposition of conditions about infrastructure on development approvals.

The LGIP 2025 has effect on and from 1 July 2025.

The LGIP 2025 can be viewed and downloaded from council’s website.

Adoption of the new Ipswich Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution (No.1) 2025, the AICR 2025

Ipswich City Council also adopted a new Ipswich Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution (No.1) 2025, the AICR 2025 on 19 June 2025 to align with the new Ipswich City Plan 2025 and LGIP 2025.

The purpose of the AICR 2025 is to:

• replace the Ipswich Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution (No.1) 2024;
• state the adopted charges for providing the local government trunk infrastructure networks; and
• state the levied charges to be levied by the local government for development for the demand placed on the local government trunk infrastructure networks.

Some key changes in the new AICR 2025 include:

• applies the prescribed amount as the maximum adopted charge (MAC) indexed consistent with the Producer Price Index (PPI);
• updates the conversion criteria, and includes updated criteria for market cost recalculations;
• removes the deemed demand for deemed demand areas, including associated mapping;
• removes the constrained land map;
• provides for the inclusion of select discounts to provide infrastructure charges relief; and
• includes an annual fund cap per category and discount cap per development.

The AICR 2025 has effect on and from 1 July 2025 and can be viewed and downloaded from council’s website.

Council has also adopted five (5) incentive policies designed to support development that alleviates current community challenges, including the delivery of affordable housing and a diversity of housing:

1. Not-for-profit Community Organisation Incentives Policy;
2. Rural Tourism Incentives Policy;
3. Adaptive Reuse of Character Buildings Incentives Policy;
4. Hotel and Short-Term Accommodation Incentives Policy; and
5. Housing Diversity and Affordability Incentives Policy.

These incentive policies are targeted at providing community benefit and achieving short-term delivery. The policies are financially responsible with the inclusion of caps, and they also provide for the deferral of payments to support community organisations and the delivery of development that benefits the community.

For further information

Should you have further enquiries about these projects, please contact council on

• phone (07) 3810 6666
• or post to: Ipswich City Council PO Box 191 IPSWICH QLD 4305
• or email: planningscheme@ipswich.qld.gov.au

Ipswich City Plan 2025 Commencement – Impact on Application Lodgement

With the commencement of the Ipswich City Plan 2025 on 1 July 2025, applicants are advised that all applications lodged and properly made, including the payment of the prescribed fee, prior to the close of business on 30 June 2025 will be assessed under the Ipswich Planning Scheme 2006 (Version 03/2017, effective from 19 October 2018).

Should any application made prior to 1 July 2025 be determined as Not Properly Made and an Action Notice issued, the application, if considered properly made after 1 July 2025, will be assessed under the Ipswich City Plan 2025 (Version 1, effective from 1 July 2025).

Please note that regardless of whether the application is lodged before or after 1 July 2025, application fees will be determined based on the 2025-26 Fees and Charges if the correct prescribed fee is not paid prior to 30 June 2025.

Should an applicant wish for their application to be assessed under the Ipswich Planning Scheme 2006 (Version 03/2017, effective from 19 October 2018), it is recommended that they contact Council’s Development Planning Branch at development@ipswich.qld.gov.au to confirm the correct prescribed fee by close of business 26 June 2025 to limit unnecessary delays in payment.

New Planning Scheme including new Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP)

On 29 May 2025, Ipswich City Council adopted Ipswich City Plan 2025 including a new Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP). The new planning scheme will come into force and have effect from 1 July 2025 and will replace the current 2006 Ipswich Planning Scheme.

To preview the Ipswich City Plan 2025 including the new LGIP, go to https://ipswich.isoplan.com.au. Further supporting information is available on the new planning scheme project page on Council’s Shape Your Ipswich www.shapeyouripswich.com.au/new-ipswich-planning-scheme

If you have any questions about the new Ipswich City Plan 2025 including the LGIP, please email planningscheme@ipswich.qld.gov.au or contact (07) 3810 6666.

Thank you for helping shape our city’s future.

New Off-site Stormwater Quality Improvement Policy and updated Voluntary Payment

In Ipswich, the quality of stormwater running off some development sites after they’ve been constructed must be improved by meeting targets for reductions in stormwater pollutants. This often involves developers designing and constructing stormwater quality improvement devices on development sites (i.e., on-site) like raingardens, filter cartridge systems, and gross pollutant traps.

Since 2012, Ipswich City Council (council) has operated the Off-site Stormwater Quality Improvement Program (Program). The Program allows eligible developers to voluntarily pay fees to council instead of achieving some or all of the targets. Council uses these fees to deliver projects off development sites (i.e., off-site) that achieve an equal or greater reduction in stormwater pollutants relative to what developers would achieve on-site. These projects can involve designing and constructing stormwater quality improvement devices like bioretention basins, constructed wetlands, and passively irrigated and water smart street trees. They can also involve naturalising stormwater channels, re-engaging floodplains and wetlands, and stabilising and rehabilitating waterways. Council is committed to ensuring these projects provide multiple long-term economic, environmental, and social benefits to the Ipswich community in addition to meeting the off-site stormwater quality improvement responsibilities it takes on through the Program.

In late 2022, a review of the Program was undertaken which identified several issues that affected council’s ability to meet its off-site stormwater quality improvement responsibilities in an environmentally and financially sustainable way. The review recommended the following improvements to address the issues.

1. The preparation of a new council policy to ensure consistent decision making in the Program in accordance with best practice stormwater management and the Queensland Government’s guidance for off-site stormwater quality improvement.
2. The preparation of new guidelines that clearly outline eligibility, rules, and requirements for developers seeking to participate in the Program.
3. An update to the unit and rate used to calculate fees paid by developers to recover council’s costs in planning and delivering off-site stormwater quality improvement projects and ensure environmental and financial risks are controlled.

In December 2024, council resolved to adopt the new policy and guidelines which can be found on Program’s website. The updated unit and rate will take effect from the 1st of July 2025 and will be included in the 2025-2026 Register of Fees and Charges. How and why the unit will be updated is described below.

Payment unit

To ensure consistent assessments of the off-site stormwater quality improvement responsibilities council takes on, and the performance of projects in meeting them, the current unit will change from square metres (m2) of water quality treatment area to kilograms (kg) of Total Nitrogen (TN) per year (kg/TN/year). The change of unit will result in the current rate of $1,121.23/m2 being updated to the equivalent value of $29,506/kgTN/year. Note that this does not represent an increase to the fee rate, and therefore the fees to be paid by developers, only a change in the unit used to measure responsibilities.

Payment rate

To address environmental modelling uncertainties and recover council’s costs for the operation of the Program, including the planning and delivery of projects to meet responsibilities, the updated fee rate will increase from $29,605/kgTN/year to $48,532/kgTN/year. This denotes a 64% increase in the fee rate, made up of a 50% increase to address modelling uncertainties and associated environmental and financial risks, and a 14% increase to recover council’s Program and project management costs.

The update to the unit and rate will maintain council’s position as a leader in off-site stormwater quality improvement in Queensland. This has been reflected in historic awards for off-site stormwater quality improvement projects (e.g., Small Creek channel naturalisation and Jim Donald Wetland) and most recently, the 2024 Award for Excellence in Policy and Education from Stormwater Queensland for the Program’s review.

For further information, please visit council’s Off-site Stormwater Quality Improvement Program website.